Elevator for automobile-trucks and the like



J. H. STUBBE.

ELEVATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE TRUCKS AND THE UKE.

T APPLICATION FILED NO V.14, 1919. 1,390,837.

I'. H. STUBBE.

ELEVATOH `FOR AUTOMOBILE TRUCKS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. I4. I9I9.

1,390,837, Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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fO/n H. zzbbe y @PWM fformy J. H. STUBBE. ELVEVATOH FOR AUTOMOBILE TRUCKS AND TH LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I4, I9I9.

1,390,837. PatentedSept- 13,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR.

UNITED STAIJES JOHN H. STUBBE, OIF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELEVATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE-TRUCKS AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. STUBBE, a

Icitizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Alleghen and State of PennsylvaniaQhave invente certain new and useful Im rovements in Elevators for Automobilerucks and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobile trucks, and more particularly to a truck speciall adapted for transporting and load ing an unloading ice in the form of blocks or cakes.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a truck of this character having a vertically movable platform or elevator, constructed in such a manner as to require a relatively small head-room compared to its rise, by means of which blocks of ice may be easily raised into position adjacent the top of a refrigerator car so as to facilitate placing the ice thereon, or blocks of ice may be readily lowered from a higher level and loaded into the truck, as conditions may require. Another object is to so associate the elevator with the truck body as to enable this elevator to be positioned closely adjacent the side of a refrigerator car or other structure so as to permit the blocksl of ice to be readilyslid from the elevator vdirectly onto the car roof. A further object is to provide simple and eflicient means for holding the ice blocks in position upon the elevator while permittin read loading or unloading thereof. Furt er objects will appear from the detailed description.

Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a truck with an elevator constructed in accordanc with my invention ap lied.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view o the elevator andv associated parts, partly broken away and in section.

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the elevator and parts associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail top plan of the elevator frame.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modification of my inventlon.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the same.

\ The invention 1s adapted particularly for use in connection with an automobile truck A having a box-like body B adapted for hauling ice in cakes or blocks. One side C of this body is shorter than the other side Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

Application led November 14, 1919. Serial No. 338,027.

and is provided, at its forward end with an end wall 1 extending a short distance across the body so as to leave, at the other side of the forward end thereof, a space or opening 2 for placing blocks of .ice on or remov` ing them from an elevator operable in the space between end wall 1 and the back wall of the cab D of the truck.

Vertically disposed cylinders 3 are secured to heavy posts 4 incorporated in the structure of the truck and positioned adjacent the end wall 1 of the body and the back of cab D, respectively. These cylinders receive pistons 4 secured on the lower ends of plungers 5 on the upper ends of which are secured caps 6 carrying forks 7 which rotatably support grooved pulleys or sheaves 8. The cylinders 4 are connected at their lower ends by a pipe 12` provided at its central portlon with a T-connection 13 by means of which it may be connected to a pressure fluid supply pipe associated with a source of supply of oil or other suitable liquid from which the oil may be forced by a pump operated by the motor of the automobile into the cylinders, suitable control valves belng provided for admitting the oil to or exhausting it from, the cylinders, as will be readily understood. For driving the pump, I avail myself of the means usually provided for such connections on the various makes of motor trucks, and locate the pump according to the type of body in the most convenient and simple manner.

A cable 9, having its ends secured to the upper ends of the respective cylinders by swlvels 11, is passed over the sheaves and then guided freely by rollers or round corner guides 10 under the elevator designated generally by 10. By thus passing the cable 9 freely under the platform, the latter will always adjust itself in a level position, even if it should occur that one of the cylinders should rise faster than the other, due to leaking piston, unequal flow of the pressure fluid or other accidental causes.

As the elevator is supported by a two to vone suspension it may be moved through twice the distance of travel of the plungers, thus producing a mechanism which is well adapted for the use intended. Also, by providing the cylinders at opposite sides of the elevator, ease and accuracy of operation are secured and possibility' of binding of the parts is eliminated.

The elevator 10 is provided with e rec1 tangular base fran/ie 14 of angle iron construction on which are secured boards 15 forming the elvator platform. Downwardly and outwardly inclined brace bars 16 are secured to this frame at their upper ends and, at their lower ends, to vertically disposed spaced angle strips 17 secured to the frame 14 substantially centrally of each end thereof. These strips receive between their outer arms the central web or stem of a T-gulde strip 18 the head of which is slidable 1n a channel member 19 secured to cylinder 3.

lThe guide strips 18 are secured, adjacent their upper ends, to arms 20 projecting from caps, and have their lower ends connected by cross-braces 21, so as to be held 1n proper operative relation to channel members 19.

It will thus be seen'that the elevator platform is guided by a telescoping or differential uide construction, which will require for t e pistons and guides, when in its lowered position, an overhead room or clearance above the fioor of the truck of approxlmately one half the rise of the elevator-platform only. This is obviously a very important advantage, especially when it is desired to have an elevator of great vertical reach.

The angle strips 17 extend above the platform and support horizontal front and back angle strips 22 secured thereto. These strips have their ends turned outwardly at right angles to receive side guard strips 23 each of which is pivoted at one end to one of the strips 22 for arcuate movement, and is provided at its other end with a slot for reception of a headed pin 24 secured inthe end of the other strip 22. By raising the inner guard strip 23 the blocks of ice may be readily placed upon the elevator from within4 the body of the truck, after which the inner strip is lowered, the ice being held upon the elevator during raising thereof by strips 23, as indicated in Fig. 1. When the elvator has been raised so as to bring the platform sub. stantially Hush with, or slightly above, the roof of a refrigerator car at the side of which the truck is positioned, by raising the outer side strip 23 the ice may be readily removed and slid uponcar roof so as to be easily loaded into the car. By positioning the elevator at one side of the truck body it may be readily positioned adjacent the side of a refrigerator car or similar structure by driving the truck alongside the car, after which the elevatormay be used as stated. When in lowered position the elevator normally provides a closure for opening 2 of the body, while providing means whereby the ice may be readily removed from the forward end of the truck body across the elevator when desired.

When the loads to be lifted are relatively light, vthe modified construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be used to advantage and at lower cost; in this design but one cylinder and a bracket-shaped platform are used. The construction 4of the telescoping guides, piston and two to one rope suspension are substantially the same as already explained in the two cylinder construction, with the eX- ception that the elevator platform will have to be secured firmly to the corresponding cable end and that the piston may perhaps be made larger to provide sufficient mechanical resistance to the loads which in this case create greater strains upon the cylinder owing to the overhanging platform. A fur ther advantage of this construction lies in the reduced floor space required owing to the elimination of one cylinder. In Figs. G and 7, the numbers refer to the similar parts of same number shown in the two cylinder construction.

Vhile I have illustrated and described herein the preferred embodiment of my invention, and one which I have found by actual use to be very practical, it may be found desirable after continued experience to make slight changes in construction and arrangement of the details as well as location upon a truck of my invention, and I intend to include in this application all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

at lV claim is:

1. The combination with an automobile truck, of an elevator carried by the body at one side thereof and adapted to form a guard for the body when lowered, and means for operating said elevator.

2. The combination with a truck, of two spaced cylinders; an elevator operable between said cylinders; pistons operable in the cylinders; plungers connected to said pistons; sheaves carried by the plungers; a cable passed over said sheaves and inovably guided beneath the elevator and having its ends fixed, and means for guiding said elevator during operation thereof.

3. The combination with a truck, of two spaced cylinders; an elevator operable between said cylinders; pistons operable in the cylinders; plungers connected to said pistons, sheaves carried by the plungers; a cable passed over said sheaves and beneath the elevator and having its ends fixed, and telescoping guide members secured to said cylinders and plungers and guiding the elevator during operation thereof, along and above said cylinders.

4. The combination with a truck including `abody provided with an opening throug one side, of an elevator adapted to normally close said opening when in lowered position and provided at its opposite sides with removable holding members for retaining articles `upon the elevator.

5. The combination with a truck, of two spaced cylinders, an elevator operable between said cylinders; plungers connected to said cylinders; sheaves carried by the plungers; a cable passed over said sheaves and eneath the elevator and having its ends fixed; a stationary guide secured to each cylinder; a movable guide rail secured to each plunger and running along said stationary guide, and guide shoes secured to' the elevator.

6. The combination with a truck, of two spaced cylinders; an elevator operable between said cylinders; plungers connected to said cylinders; sheaves carried b the plungers; a cable passed over said sieaves and beneath said elevator and having its ends fixe-d; a stationary guide of channel shaped cross section secured to each cylinder; a movable guide-rail of T section secured to each plunger guided by and running within said stationary guide, and guide shoes secured to the elevator, guided by and running along the central web of said movable guide rails.

7 The combination with a truck, of two spaced cylinders; an elevator operable between sald cylinders; plungers connected to said cylinders; sheaves carried by the pluners; a cable assed over said sheaves and eneath the eevator and having its ends fixed; a stationary guide secured to each cylinder; a movable guide rail secured to each plunger and running alon said stationary guide; guide shoes secure to the elevator, said elevator occupying but a fractional part of the body-space of said truck.

8. In combination with a cylinder and piston elevator of two to one cable and sheave construction, means for reducing the required overhead room for piston and guide, when in lowered position, to approximately 'one-half of the rise of the elevator platform; said means consisting of a stationary uide rail secured to the cylinder, a mova le guide rail secured to the piston and running along said stationary guide and guide shoes or runners secured to the ele-- vator.

9. In combination with a cylinder and piston elevator of two to one cable and sheave construction, a stationary guide rail secured to the cylinder; a movable guide rail secured to the piston and running along said stationary guide and guide shoes or runners secured to the elevator.

l0. In combination with a cylinder and pistonv elevator of two to one cable and sheave construction, a stationary guide rail of channel shaped cross section secured to the cylinder; a movable guide. rail of T scction secured to the piston, guided and running within said stationary guide and guideshoes secured to the elevator, guided by and running along the central web of said movable guide rail.

11. The combination with an automobile truck of a cylinder and piston elevator of two to one rope and sheave construction; a stationary guide rail secured to the cylinder; a movable guide rail secured to the piston and running along said stationary guide, and guide shoes or runners secured to the elevator, said elevator occupying but a fractional part of the body-s )ace of said truck.

In testimony whereof aflix my sionaturc.

Jo-HN H. sTU'sBE. 

